State Rep. Michael Ashford (D-Toledo) today announced the release of $529,953 in state funds to help maintain safe passage for travelers and prevent vehicle collisions during the major widening project on Interstate Route (IR) 75 in Lucas County. The funds will help pay for permanent concrete barriers along the interstate.

“Safety has to be the number one priority during any major construction project,” said Ashford. “I am pleased that the state has invested wisely to ensure Northwest Ohioans can continue to travel safely along our major highway.”

The safety barriers are part of the $62.6 million highway project, which consists of improving Interstate Route 75 in Lucas County by reconstructing and widening IR-75 between Lagrange Street and Chrysler Drive. The overall project will reconstruct seven steel beam structures with reinforced concrete decks and remove one steel beam structure with a reinforced concrete deck.

The latest funds approved for release represent a correction to the quantity of concrete safety barriers required by the project. The current project completion date remains May 9, 2018.